A Spiritual Battle

It's a spiritual battle.  There's no other word for it.  Satan does not let go easily.  He fights to keep all that he can. 

Our family has faced some deep challenges lately.  We feel exposed and vulnerable.  Parenting difficulties we never dreamed we would face are threatening to suffocate us.  It feels like the life is being sucked out of our souls.  This is what Satan wants us to believe. 

I refuse to believe his lies though.

Troy, Michael, and Amber have prayed for their birth family nearly every day for the past six years.  We have joined them in those prayers.  Troy's simple prayer each night was, "Please help them to find Jesus."  Over the past several years we have witnessed God's healing for a hurting family, and we have rejoiced. 

Just this past Saturday evening we had the privilege of sharing with the children's birth mother as she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Spiritual healing has come as well, and the angels rejoiced.  There were lots of happy tears.

Troy hugging his mother after helping baptize her.

Looking back I'm realizing that there was and still is a strong spiritual battle going on here.  Right before a pivotal moment when the decision was being made to surrender to Christ, we encountered a crisis here in our home.  Was it an attempt to keep this from happening?  Then just two days after this event, we are facing yet another family crisis.  Are we under attack?  It feels like it.

We will be strong.  We will claim God's promises.  We have His Spirit to empower us.  We are not alone.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."   Eph. 6:10-14

We will stand.

We will rejoice in the victory.

"for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."   I John 5:4-5